Crickhowell Choral Society's 15th May Festival takes place this year from Thursday 30 April to Monday 4 May at St Edmund's Church, Crickhowell. We are very fortunate to be joined by two of the rising stars of the early music scene, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and tenor Nicholas Mulroy at our concert on Saturday 2 May at 7.30pm - their performances of Bach and Vivaldi are sure to be stunning.

Elin Manahan Thomas was born and bred in Swansea. In 2007 she released her debut album 'Eternal Light', which entered the classical charts at number two. Elin performed in Classic FM’s 15th birthday concert, at Songs of Praise’s ‘The Big Sing’ at the Royal Albert Hall and in the World Premiere of Sir John Tavener’s Requiem in Liverpool Cathedral. This week (Easter 2009) she sang for the Pope at the Vatican taking the role of Mary in the new oratorio by American composer Andrew T Miller. She is currently making her name not only as a soprano, specialising in baroque music, but also as a TV and radio presenter. She's just presented an S4C documentary about Joseph Hadyn and later in 2009 she'll be covering both the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and the National Eisteddfod, she also has a regular Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Cymru.

On Sunday 3 May at 7.30pm the remarkable countertenor Mark Chambers takes the lead role in our semi-dramatised opera 'Orpheus and Euridice' by Gluck. There is high drama as Orpheus travels through the underworld at the mercy of the Gods to rescue his beloved Euridice. This is powerful stuff, full of haunting tunes, dances and choruses.

Our opening concert on Thursday 30 April at 7.30pm is something completely different - the 'Carver Trio' with Luke Goss (accordion), local musician Dylan Fowler (guitars) and Nathan Riki Thomson (double bass and flute). The Carver Trio's style combines the intense energy and delicate lyricism of European folk with jazz improvisation. "British music at its most ingenious" was how The Guardian described this new brand of music-making.

'Taith', the duo of local musicians Dylan Fowler and Gillian Stevens, will perform at our closing concert on bank holiday Monday 4 May at 3.00pm. Playing an intriguing range of instruments including guitars, gambas and crwth, their music creates a spellbinding atmosphere which draws its inspiration from traditional roots and skills of improvisation.

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday Concerts are available from Webb’s Crickhowell, Abergavenny Music or by telephoning Pip Hassall on 01873 857392. Tickets for the Thursday and Monday concerts can be purchased on the door. For full details visit our website www.crickhowellchoralsociety.org